confidence Tammany's claims to representation in
the State convention which assembled at Syracuse on September 22
(1882).[1780] He knew it was a critical moment for the Democracy. The
poverty of the Republican majority in the preceding election, and the
Administration's highhanded efforts to defeat Cornell for
renomination, seemed to put the State within the grasp of a united
party. Yet the Tilden leaders, although divided among themselves,
shrank from giving him power. This feeling was intensified by the
renewed activity of the old canal ring. The presence, too, of Stephen
T. Arnot of Chemung, who served as a member of the Kelly State
Committee in 1879, added to their hostility. Indeed, so pronounced was
the resentment that on the first day of the convention Tammany was
refused tickets of admission.

[Footnote 1780: The Greenback-Labour party held its convention at
Albany on July 19, nominating Epenetus Howe of Tompkins, for governor.
It reaffirmed the principles of the party.

A labour convention was held at Buffalo on September 12, but no
nominations were made. It favored abolition of the contract-labour
system in prisons; of cigar factories in tenements; of child labour
under fourteen; enforcement of the compulsory education act; reduction
of labour to ten hours a day, etc.

An anti-monopoly convention assembled at Saratoga on September 13. No
nominations were made. It demanded commissioners to supervise and
control corporation charges; advocated free canals; government
ownership of the telegraph; postal savings banks; discontinuance of
railroad grants; prohibition of combinations to control prices, etc.]

But behind Kelly stood the two leading candidates for governor.[1781]
In his canvass of the State Roswell P. Flower, hopeful of Kelly's
support, had created a strong sentiment favourable to Tammany's
admission, while Henry W. Slocum, mindful of Tammany's dislike, had
also done what he could to smooth its way. Under such pressure the
leaders, after recognising the County Democracy as the regular
organisation with thirty-eight votes, gave Tammany twenty-four and
Irving Hall ten.

[Footnote 1781: There were eight candidates for governor: Erastus
Corning of Albany, Homer A. Nelson of Dutchess, Grover Cleveland of
Erie, Roswell P. Flower of Jefferson, Henry W. Slocum of Kings, and
Allan Campbell, Waldo M. Hutchins, and Perry Belmont of New York.]

Although this preliminary struggle did not clarify the gubernator